Connecticut western news., 1887-09-21
A PONY FARM.
An Annual Penning and Brand
 ing on Chincoteague Island.
Stirring Scenes Witnessed by
 Great Holiday Crowds.

= i men of the native, was holding by the long pancsa restiye dim1nutive pony, the raising ahd penning of which have, within tho last decade made the island of Chincoteague, Va., in connection with its great oyster deposits, famous throughout the country. And while he was vociferously cxpatiating upon the speeding qualities of his charge the crowd was constantly augmenting in size, curious heterogeneous congrega- tion of people, who came in boats from the Virginia shore aud in the cars from the back counties in Maryland This year, however the attendance has not been confined exclusively to residents of the immediate nei ghborhood, but Phila- delphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington have continued largely to swell the crowds from the rural districts. Conspicuous among this great audience are the colorcd people who regard the event as a holiday and are always present in full force.
 These pennings take place annually, and for weeks great preparations are made by the people to attend them. The beautiful bay of Chincoteague is dotted thickly With sail of all kinds of craft-AAthe tiny sail boat, the canoe, with its mutton leg white wings the bug eye, the pungy and the schooner-all filled with human freight and all gravitating toward the one great point. Here, too, comes the steamer from Franklin City, having on board the sightseers from Maryland and the up-country people. They all rush pell nell to the centre of attraction, where the vast crowds are good -naturedly pushing and jostling each other for vantage ground-black and white, men, women and children, mixed up in almost inextricable confu- sion. ,s~
 Itis almost impossible to learn any thing definite as to the origin of the Chin coteague pony, or an intelligent version of whence it came. A great many claim that there are an offspring of the pony of the Shetland Isles and must have found their way to Chincoteague from a large steamer that was wrecked on the island before it was inhabited. Certain it is, at one time they roamed the island in vast numbers, but when the great storm of forty years ago devastated the country and almost submerged Chin coteague it came near annihilating them
 In size the Chincoteague pony ap- proximates that of the Shetland. The hair on their bodies is thick and shaggy and their names and tails are long and glossy. They are strong, hardy little fellows, roaming wild on the extreme southern end of the island, feeding on the hay and tender roots which grow in luxurious abundance in the salt marshes bordering on the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. When they are brought in they arc divided into what is known in the vernacular as herds, and each herd has its own peculiar mark or brand to dis tinguish it from the other and thus ob- viate the difficulty of dispute as to iden- tity or ownership when corralled for branding. These branding irons are made according to the notion of the owner, representing the initials, stars, spear heads, crosses, etc., and are easily distinguished by the owner.
 The men who herd the ponies are ex- perienced riders, and in throwing the lariat would put some of the cowboys to blush. They are all mounted on fleet horses and each one is provided with a long whip and lasso. They start out in different directions and by circuitous route come up within sight of the ponies, quietly feeding on the salt marshes, where they surround them. The sudden appearance of the riders generally frightens the ponies and a stampede ensues. Then comes an ex- citing chase for miles, the hcrders usual ly coming out the victors. The ponies are gradually gathered together in mass and treated kindly until their fright at the sudden disturbance has somewhat subsided, when they are driven to their pen, where the he1ding takes place, which is an immense space enclosed with board fence. H.re the young colts are picked out, labelled, and haltered together. As is well known, a colt will, by instinct, follow its mother and, as a result, the colts of one herd are easily distinguished from another
 The arrival of the herders with the ponies is the signal for the widest ex- citemcnt among the spectators, and loud cheers greet their coming, and the DO. nies arc ushercd into the enclosure with wild hurrahs and clapping of hands. The process of branding is not only ex- citing, but exceedingly dangerous, and accidents have frequently been the re- suit. It requires an expert in the buSi ness to successfully manage it. The pony is brought out, and while one man holds his head the branding iron il the hands of another is quickly applied to the hip. The whole operation doe: - not ordinarily require more than tivt minutes. Sometimes, however, a col : more refractory than the rest has to b. thrown down before he will submit Ropes are tied to its legs, and it i thrown down. Crowds of negro boys . ranoinn in aua from G tn i.